A Journey from Pain to Power: Peninah’s Transformation through CMMB's Prevention of Gender-Based Violence Interventions

In the quiet corners of our hearts, we trust the people we cherish, often our family members. They are our pillars of strength, protection, and unconditional love. What happens when these people become the source of our deepest wounds? How do you navigate a world where those who should be your sanctuary become your oppressors? This is the paradox of trust that Peninah (not her real name), a 23-year-old from Gem in Yala Sub-County, knows too well. 

Peninah's life was marked by tragedy from a tender age. Her father passed away when she was three months old, leaving her mother to raise her. Despite the challenges, her mother was a pillar of strength, ensuring Peninah's care. However, this stability was shattered when her mother died in 2018, when Peninah was in Form 2. The loss of her mother marked the beginning of a dark chapter for her. 

Forced to live with her grandparents after her mother's death, Peninah hoped to find safety. Instead, she found herself at the mercy of her grandmother and uncle, who turned her home into a place of torment. Her grandfather, who had provided some semblance of protection, had passed away in 2014, and with his absence, the violence escalated. The walls that should have sheltered her became the backdrop for unspeakable acts of abuse—physical, emotional, and sexual. 

Peninah’s life became a series of battles for survival. Beaten, humiliated, and denied an education, she was stripped of her dignity. Her grandmother, to rid herself of the responsibility of caring for Peninah, tried to force her into marriage while she was still in Form 3. When Peninah refused, the abuse only intensified. The weight of her circumstances pushed her into a desperate relationship with a boy, who later assaulted her, leaving her pregnant and more broken. 

Her sense of isolation and despair grew, leading her to consider suicide. With nowhere to turn and no one to trust, Peninah was finally cast out of her home. Alone and with a baby on the way, she struggled to find meaning in a life filled with so much pain. 

Despairingly low, Peninah, through a friend, found hope in CMMB’s Breaking the Silence program (BTS) in 2023. A program that supported survivors of gender-based violence. A counselor, Veronica, recognized her deep trauma and enrolled her in a support group for GBV survivors. 

The BTS program provided Peninah with more than just a place to share her story—it offered her the tools to rebuild her life. Through comprehensive counseling sessions, Peninah learned about her rights as a woman and a survivor. She was guided on how to seek justice and protect herself from further harm. The program taught her practical skills, such as table banking and microenterprise. 

With the support of her new community, Peninah began saving money and taking loans from the group. The loans enabled her to start selling cereals and thrifted clothes, a business that has since become her lifeline. What once seemed like an impossible dream—financial independence and stability—is now a reality. 

Today, Peninah no longer thinks about suicide. Instead, she stands as proof of the power of resilience and the impact of community support. She has reclaimed her voice and power, refusing to be defined by the horrors of her past. Peninah now uses her story to inspire other young people who face challenges, showing them that it is possible to rise above even the most harrowing experiences. 

CMMB’s commitment to survivors like Peninah goes beyond mere intervention. The organization invested in training trauma counselors who provided age-appropriate support to GBV survivors. CMMB also empowered women economically by providing business grants and teaching financial literacy through table banking. This approach ensured survivors healed from their trauma and gained skills and confidence to build sustainable lives. 

Peninah's journey is a powerful testament to human resilience. From victim to victor, her transformation, fueled by CMMB's BTS program, shows how compassion can ignite extraordinary strength. Her story is a beacon of hope, proving that with support and belief, anyone can overcome adversity.